Mara Plains Camp

Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Introduction

With just seven rooms, Mara Plains Camp is perhaps the most intimate camp on the Mara. It is set in the cool shade of riverine forest, and is designed to be as low-impact as possible while still providing a luxury camp experience. Spend your nights under canvas on raised platforms above a creek. Wildlife surrounds you—giraffe munching on grass, elephant rolling in mud, baboons tussling on the ground—and the view from your own verandah will simply blow you away.

Accommodations

Each of the octagonal tents is uniquely designed and decorated—hurricane lanterns, hand-carved furnishings, and lush fabrics in warm tones that complement the reds and browns of the bush are the order of the day. Every tent has its own en-suite bathroom, dressing area and viewing terrace. Each tent is raised on a deck, and it’s possible to open up three of the canvas walls to the great outdoors. In the centre of camp, three open-air marquis-style tents serve as lounge, library, writing room and dining room. A campfire ringed with comfortable chairs is nearby, where we retire for drinks and stargazing if the mood strikes.

Activities

Wildlife is everywhere in the Mara, and it is our whim—and that of the varied game we seek—that decides what we do each day. Perhaps we take a long nature walk across the savannah or set out on a game drive… or perhaps we have a lazy picnic by the river instead!

And of course, a hot-air balloon safari. Our mesmerized eyes train downward at the stunning panorama unfolding below: the grazing herds, skittish gazelles, dancing shadows, elephants and giraffes casting curious glances overhead. Touch down for a champagne breakfast on the savannah—sitting on a grassy hilltop and watching the world wake up around you, while you sip fresh-brewed coffee and eat eggs cooked to order.

At the end of the day, a spectacular scene awaits in the bush: beside a glowing campfire, cocktails are served with panoramic views of the plains as a breathtaking backdrop.

Why We Love Them

Mara Plains has exclusive, privileged access to all the main areas within the Mara eco-system. This means we have unfettered permission to cross over conservancy boundaries, offering unrivalled opportunities for game-viewing. In a region replete with predatory cats, this freedom means one thing: we can go where the action is.